International rugby league got a shot in the arm when Australia played its way into the Four Nations final with a hard-fought 36 – 20 win over England at Wembley Stadium last night. The very competitive Poms pushed the Australians for all but the last 10 minutes, and so next weekend’s New Zealand v England [Read more]
Broken Bat
November 7, 2011 by 3 Comments
Photos by Peter Argent This is Adelaide District Cricket Club opening batsman Anthony Jennings during the round three SACA district A grade game against Glenelg at Glandore (Revolution Reserve) on Saturday, November 5 .
Crio’s Q: Cricket Corruption
November 7, 2011 by 17 Comments
Is the conviction and jailing of the Pakistani cricketers a positive or a negative? Is it a confident statement of intent or confirmation of rampant corruption? There’s been months of Moody scuttlebutt on the grapevine, for example, with the disclaimer that “they can’t rub him out because it would cripple the Industry.” How’s a bloke [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Welcome Wembley return despite curse of the commentators
November 6, 2011 by 2 Comments
Still bristling from Channel 9’s insulting 45 minute highlights package of the Kangaroos vs. Kiwis opener last week, I was somewhat appeased to find the Wembley double-header televised live. My eyes grew heavy sitting through the dour second half of the NZ vs. Wales clash, however, and I left it for the Foxtel IQ to [Read more]
VRC Cantala Stakes Day Knacker Selections
November 5, 2011 by 13 Comments
V.R.C. Cantala Stakes Day Almanacker Selections Short-term volatile investors have been presented with a strong (and tough) finish to another memorable Flemington carnival. If you are hosting today in the Nursery or the Rails, the best tip for Cantala Stakes Day (marketed as a family day) is watch your eskies. Those pesky urchins can be [Read more]
An International Disgrace
November 5, 2011 by 7 Comments
I very nearly put pen to paper a week ago to vent my disgust at the Australian International Rules team. I’m not going to let the second consecutive Friday night pass. I’m a big believer in the concept. I went to a great Test at the WACA as a kid, and had a terrific [Read more]
Crio drops his guard
November 4, 2011 by 4 Comments
Tomorrow’s $1m. Gr1 Sprint (MR5, 1200m, WFA) has been hyped for months and whilst it has not attracted the International challengers initially mooted the presence of Black Caviar will ensure a record Final Day crowd flocks to a sun-drenched Flemington. This should add some zest to the Carnival. I hope so. Since Derby Day I’ve [Read more]
Footy Quatrains
November 3, 2011 by 9 Comments
The First Game of the Season A wife in marvellous Melbourne may well be tried for treason if she tries to stop her man attend the first game of the season.
Century up for Adelaide Oval scoreboard
November 3, 2011 by 1 Comment
The Adelaide Oval scoreboard turned 100 years old on 3 November.
Almanac Tips: Oaks Day
November 3, 2011 by 3 Comments
Harms’ Tips Ulundi Twilighting Valentine Miss and trifectas with Russian Bond Satin Shoes (roughie: Vain Attraction) Chosen To Fly Gliding/Ravheel Proliferate Cascabel Face Off Smokie’s smokies for Oaks Day. Race 6: #3 Gliding. (then #2 Dowager Queen, then #5 Roma Giaconda). J B Cummings collects Oaks trophies like he collects Melbourne Cups. [Read more]
Cup Day
November 2, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Andrew Starkie The Retreat beer garden roared when they jumped in the Cup. Stubbies saluted the air. Smoke from the bbq clouded the TV screen. By the time the field had gone past the post for the first time, some had returned to their huddles and beers. The rockerbilly band were [Read more]
In A-League of its Own 4 (2011/12)
November 2, 2011 by 5 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League The Brisbane Roar has firmed as favourites to take out the A-League this season following their 7-1 demolition of Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. Funnily enough, it was a come from behind win following Dario Vidosic’s early goal which put only a seed of doubt [Read more]
What if?
November 2, 2011 by 19 Comments
One of the many attractions of sport is the endless possibilities for discussions post events beginning with the word “if.” The beauty of such arguments are that they are all hypothetical, so no-one can be proven wrong ! In the wake of the greatest Melbourne Cup of my lifetime, one of the fascinating post-race events [Read more]
Laps
November 2, 2011 by 14 Comments
I drove down one of the goat’s tracks behind town yesterday, towards home, stopping off at the footy oval, where it all smoothes out into thin, second-hand bitumen roads. The grass was long, everything grey drizzle, rolling hills and mountains that disappeared into low, shifting clouds. My feet weren’t itching at all. It all [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Could the NZ halves please stand up?
November 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
After watching the opening game of the Four Nations tournament between Australia and New Zealand, I’m left with a puzzle: is Benji Marshall badly out of form, injured or just foxing? I mean, how can someone who is supposed to be one of the two or three best players in the world put in two [Read more]
Yes we love trash. Tales of the recycled – Part 1
November 2, 2011 by 1 Comment
“Oh I Love Trash Anything Dirty or Dingy or Dusty Anything Ragged or Rotten or Rusty Yes I Love Trash” (Oscar The Grouch, circa 1969, Sesame Street) Now that the Cup has been run and won and the treasured prize in Australian horse racing is jetting off to France once again, football fans can [Read more]
Crio’s Q: A nice meal with some friends
October 30, 2011 by 3 Comments
Cup Eve..time for another established Almanac tradition. The lunch. I must admit to not being a big “liunch” attender. Either working or wary! But lunches and sportsman’s nights tend to develop a notoriety that probably includes some recounts from our worldly readership. Anyone game to break the “what happens at the function [Read more]
Who wins the Melbourne Cup?
October 30, 2011 by 42 Comments
Here is the Melbourne Cup field. No doubt you have form guides scattered around the study (lounge room, loo, kitchen bench). Thought you might like to start the discussion. Mount a case for your selection: 1 11113-66-101 AMERICAIN(15) Gerald Mosse 58.0 Alain de Royer Dupre 2 2-01794-1311 JUKEBOX JURY(6) Neil Callan 57.0 Mark Johnston [Read more]
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